These teams should be off the bubble and into the dance

We are a bit more than two weeks away from Selection Sunday, and more clarity is coming to the bubble picture. It’s time we can start punching some tickets for teams that used to be on the bubble.

Wisconsin, who seemed NIT-bound (at best) six weeks ago? You’re dancing after that big-time win at Iowa. (Just don’t lose at Minnesota, K?) Seton Hall? Come on down — the win over Providence may have sealed your deal. (No losing at DePaul, guys.) Texas Tech? Five wins in a row gets you a golden deal. And Colorado, too — this week’s win over Arizona ought to get things done for you.

Sure, these aren’t bubble certainties, but they are as close as you get in an unpredictable year like this.

(Teams with an asterisk are expected to be automatic qualifiers as they currently lead their conferences)

Midwest Region (Chicago)

Seed

Team

Location

1

Kansas*

at Des Moines

16

Winthrop*/Hampton*

8

Providence

9

Colorado

4

Utah

at Denver

13

Monmouth*

5

Baylor

12

San Diego State

6

Cal

at Providence

11

St. Joseph’s*

3

Duke

14

Akron*

7

Texas Tech

at St. Louis

10

Valparaiso*

2

Michigan State

15

Weber State*

East Region (Philadelphia)

Seed

Team

Location

1

Villanova*

at Brooklyn

16

Wagner*

8

Syracuse

9

Michigan

4

Iowa State

at Denver

13

Stony Brook*

5

Purdue

12

Yale*

6

Notre Dame

at Oklahoma City

11

Tulsa/Vanderbilt

3

Maryland

14

UAB*

7

South Carolina

at Raleigh

10

Wisconsin

2

Virginia

15

IPFW*

West Region (Anaheim)

Seed

Team

Location

1

Oklahoma

at Oklahoma City

16

Bucknell*/Texas Southern*

8

USC

9

Seton Hall

4

Kentucky*

at Spokane

13

UNC-Wilmington*

5

Arizona

12

Hawaii*

6

Texas A&M

at Spokane

11

Pitt/Cincinnati

3

Oregon*

14

Temple*

7

UConn

at Raleigh

10

Oregon St.

2

Miami

15

New Mexico St.*

South Region (Louisville)

Seed

Team

Location

1

Xavier

at St. Louis

16

North Florida*

8

Florida

9

Wichita St.*

4

Iowa

at Des Moines

13

Stephen F. Austin*

5

Texas

12

Arkansas-Little Rock*

6

Dayton

at Providence

11

St. Mary’s*

3

UNC*

14

Chattanooga*

7

Indiana*

at Brooklyn

10

Butler

2

West Virginia

15

Belmont*

Last Four In: Pittsburgh, Tulsa, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt (last team in)

First Four Out: VCU, Gonzaga, St. Bonaventure, Alabama

Next Four Out: Temple, GWU, BYU, Washington

Follow Reid Forgrave on Twitter @reidforgrave or email him at ReidForgrave@gmail.com